Illuminated display



Dec. 2, 1952.7 H. EIRHOADS 2,619,752

ILLUMINATED DISPLAY Filed Feb. 20, 1947 INVENTOR. 1

Patented Dec. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" Henry E. Rhoads, Toledo, Ohio Application February 20, 1947, Serial No. 729,785

1 Claim. (Cl. 40-130) This invention relates to illuminated displays more particularly of the sign-board type. An object ofthis invention is to provide a portable unit which may directly illuminate one portion of a'displ'ay while indirectly illuminating the remainder thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable unit embodying a directly illuminated spot which may be removably mounted in a comparatively fixed setting or field, said unit when mounted also furnishing illumination for the setting.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a sign board wherein a directly illuminated portion thereof may be readily changed without disturbing the overall continuity and the changeable portionserving as an illuminationv means for the entire display. v

.Still another object of this invention'is to provide a sealed illuminated sign insert of sufiicient light power to directly and intensely illuminate the display portion carried by the insert and indirectly illuminate the remaining portion, .yet employing aminimum of energy and economical structural elements.

Other objectsand'advantages of this invention relating to the arrangement, operation and function of the related elements of the structure, to various details of construction, to combinations of parts and to economies of manufacture, will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following description and appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a sign, more particularly of the type found along highways, embodying features of the invention herein disclosed;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, parts being broken away, of the portable unit shown mounted in position in a sign;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a sign illustrating a modified application of the invention herein;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of a portion of a cover or shield used to direct some of the light rays from the unit over preselected areas of the main display; and

Fig. 5 is a view on the line V--V, Fig. 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a highway display comprising a main field l0 which may carry an advertisement [2 incorporating a safety message I4. A minor field [6 is placed in some preselected section of the main field and may carry an additional notation such as the trademark or other identification or the sponsor of the display.

During the day-time observer's, especially those riding in vehicles have sufiicient time passing the display to read a comparatively lengthy message. However, during the night hours more care is necessary in driving, observation distances are shortened and consequently only short messages are of value in the sign-board advertising field and then only those which are illuminated.

To this end, the invention herein provides a portable unit for mountingthe minor fieldlB. This field comprises a transparency I8, with mes sage 20 thereon clear and remainder coated and rendered less transparent or even opaque.

A simple form of mounting is herein shown-L The transparency I8 is held in positionby a ring 22 against one edge of a translucent ring 24, the opposite edge of the translucent ring being nested in one end of a conical light ray directing tube 26, which tube 26 also mounts a light source 28 at its opposite end. It has been found a desirable source of illumination is a motor vehicle headlight which may be employed with little or no reconstruction and is economical in 'use'.

This unit may be inserted in opening 30 through the main field l0 and positioned so that the translucent ring is in front of the field thereby spacing the transparency IB therefrom. The light source carrying end of the tube is rearwardly from the main field. Suitable mounting means 32 may detachably mount this unit in the described position.

The taper and length of the tube 26 is so dimensioned as to fully utilize the light volume from the selected type of light source.

When the light is in position, the characters of the message 20 are directly and intensely illuminated while a portion of the light rays escape or pass through the translucent ring 24 to indirectly illuminate the main field.

In some instances it is desirable to indirectly illuminate only a preselected portion of the'main field such as the message l4. To this end, adjustable band; cover or shield 32 is placed about the translucent ring 24 and is provided with a port 34 through which indirect rays are selectively directed. This shield is adjustable entirely around the axis of the direct rays. A lens 36 may be mounted in said port for further control of the ray diffusion.

If more than one portion of the main field is 3 to be illuminated, additional ports 38 may be placed in the shield 32 and for a variety of effects, the lenses in said ports may be of variously selected shapes and colors,

In event the sponsor of a sign changes, or the display is to be altered, the sealed unit may be readily replaced. The use of a sealed illuminating unit has obvious advantages.

Many modifications and elaborations of the principle herein may be employed, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 3. For example, a transparent or partially translucent image 40 having a predetermined coating 42 thereon, may be mounted in spaced relation as to the field to be all or partially directly illuminated and if partially, then the remainder to be indirectly illuminated.

This image 4|] may take the form of the advertised product with the name portion 44 thereof directly in alignment with the unit in which instance the transparency I8 is decorated or configured to confine the direct rays to such portion 44.

Suitable brackets 46 may mount the image 40 in desired relationship to the main field H) and to the illuminating unit.

The invention herein is applicable to the larger size displays such as the so-called bill-boards as well as to other sizes such as wall-signs or counter-displays and may be single or in groups. By use of the illuminating device described, signs of this type may be used in places remote from commercial power sources by employing batteries or other self-contained power sources. Where commercial power is available, economical current translating units may be used.

It is to be understood that the above detailed description of the present invention is intended to disclose an embodiment thereof to those skilled in the art, but that the invention is not to be construed as limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. The language used in the specification relating to the operation and function of the elements of the invention is employed for purposes of description r and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the scope of the following claim beyond the requirements of the prior art.

What is claimed and it is desired to secure by United States Letters Patent:

In a roadside display sign, an opaque field upon which a display may be carried, said field provided with a circular opening therethrough, a conical tube intermediately nested and mounted in said opening to position its larger end forwardly of said field and its smaller end rearwardly thereof, said tube having a lateral aperture adjacent the larger end between the terminus of the tube and the field, a transparent reinforcing ring nested within said tube at the larger end to seal said aperture and provide a shoulder inset from the terminal opening of the tube, a transparent plate positioned against said shoulder for sealing said terminal opening, means holding said plate so positioned, a split ring about said tube in the region of said ring and having an opening therethrough in registry with said aperture, and a light source mounted on the smaller end of said'tube providing direct rays of light therefrom to pass through said plate and indirect rays to pass through said lateral aperture, transparent ring and split ring opening onto the field.

HENRY E. RHOADS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

